Git Repo Alerts

The latest release (10-Aug-2025) or later of the Parts Frontend application (Parts_Frontend.accde) includes Git Repo Status Alerts.

The purpose of the Git Alerts are two fold. 

1. To remind and prompt users to commit changes staged in their local repositories to the master repository.
   
   
2. To remind and prompt users to Pull Changes from the master repository when their local repo is not in sync with the master repository.

The option to use Git Alerts can be enabled or disabled in the Parts Frontend Config Table or by closing Parts and editing the user.ini file. The user.ini can be found in the same folder as the Parts Frontend.accde file.

If you concerns or questions please Contact Parts

That's it !

Ai Chats for Parts

Updated July 22, 2025

Video Link  https://youtu.be/XAOUxPQ_sR8

Parts Chats with Microsoft Copilot or Google Gemini.

To enable the Ai Chats an AI Chat Request Template is required.

See Parts > Configuration > Ai Chat Ask Template.

Example Templates for Ai Chat Requests:

Gemini Search DigiKey and Mouser for Part Number, include URL links, Alternate Part URLs, RoHS status, stock and price ranking. Include a Link for Octopart.

Copilot Search DigiKey and Mouser for Part Number, include URL links, Alternate Part URLs, RoHS status, stock and price ranking. Include a Link for Octopart. Please begin the Conversation Name with Part Number.

Tips:

Copy and Paste one the above Chat Requests or Create your own.

To start a Chat Select a Part Number or Description in Parts then Click on | Ai Chat |

Single click left mouse button on one of the | Ai Chat | labels (URL Link) and wait for Chat to complete before starting a another Chat request. 

Best practices . . . Close the Chat window before starting another Chat.

Selecting by Description may be your best choice for finding Alternate Parts

Requirements:

The Chat must begin with Copilot or Gemini and contain the keyword Part Number.

The Part Number in the Template will be replaced with the selected Part Number or Description. 

The Chat Ask Template is limited to 255 characters.

Contact Parts if have any questions about Parts and Ai Chats.

That's It !

Share Access Databases on Cloud Drives - Don't Do it !

Here's a breakdown of why sharing an Access database directly on OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive is problematic and what alternatives to consider:

Why it's not recommended:

• Synchronization Issues:

  OneDrive synchronizes files by downloading and uploading the entire file. When multiple users are working on the same Access database, this can lead to conflicts and overwrites as each user's changes are synced.
• Performance Degradation:

  Opening and saving the entire database file repeatedly can cause significant performance issues, especially with larger databases.
• Potential for Data Corruption:

  The frequent syncing and potential conflicts can lead to data corruption and loss. 

Recommendations:

1. 1. Split the Database:

   • Divide the Access database into a front-end (containing user interface elements like forms, reports, and queries) and a back-end (containing the data tables). 
   • Place the back-end on a shared network location (like a shared folder on a server or a NAS drive). 
   • Each user can then have a copy of the front-end on their local machine. 
   • This allows multiple users to work with the database concurrently without directly interfering with each other's changes.
2. 2. Consider Cloud-Based Database Services:
3. • Cloud hosted MySQL database solutions offer scalable and reliable alternatives. 
   • These services are designed to handle concurrent access and data management efficiently. 
   • They can be more complex to set up initially but offer long-term benefits for larger or more complex databases.In summary, while OneDrive can be convenient for sharing various file types, it's not the right tool for sharing Access databases due to synchronization and performance limitations. Splitting the database and using a cloud-based database solution is a better option for multi-user database sharing.

Parts is a split Access Database with a front-end application that supports both Local Access databases and remote cloud hosted MySQL databases.

Contact Parts for an online demo or to discuss how to create a shared Altium database library.

Randy Clemmons